Poinsettia Plant Named &#39;NPCW14221&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by having dark red bracts, dark green foliage, and a late flowering time, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Euphorbia pulcherrima

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘NPCW 14221’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of poinsettia, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘NPCW 14221’. ‘NPCW 14221’ was derived as a selection from a cross-pollination conducted in Nairobi, Kenya in November/December 2008 between the proprietary female parent ‘EP-1995-0002’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘EP-1995-0001’ (unpatented).

In October 2009, a single plant was selected in Stuttgart, Germany from plants produced from the initial cross. In May 2010, ‘NPCW14221’ was first asexually propagated by vegetative apical cuttings. ‘NPCW14221’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative apical cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Dark red bracts;

2. Dark green foliage; and

3. A late flowering time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new poinsettia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the whole plant. The photograph is of a plant approximately four-months-old grown indoors in Stuttgart, Germany in November 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘NPCW14221’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants 19-weeks-old after potting grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in November 2012. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Euphorbiaceae.         -   Species.—Euphorbia pulcherrima.         -   Common name.—Poinsettia.         -   Variety.—‘NPCW 14221’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female.—Proprietary poinsettia parent ‘EP-1995-0002’             (unpatented).         -   Male.—Proprietary poinsettia parent ‘EP-1995-0001’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Intermittent.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days.         -   Keeping quality.—Excellent. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Triangular.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Height.—28.0 cm to 30.0 cm.         -   Width.—23.0 cm to 28.0 cm.         -   Number of branches.—6.         -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—6. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Apical cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—RHS 143A is the main color with RHS 60A spots and             stripes on parts of the stems.         -   Length.—25.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity.—6 to 7 per lateral branch.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Width.—7.0 cm to 9.0 cm.         -   Lobe characteristics.—Shallow.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 60A for the middle vein and             transparent for the other veins Lower surface: RHS 53A for             the middle vein and RHS 139D for the other veins.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Color.—Mature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 136A Lower             surface: RHS 136B Immature foliage: Upper surface: RHS 141A             Lower surface: RHS 139B.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length: 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 47A Lower (part)             surface: RHS 53B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—4 weeks.         -   Diameter.—23.0 cm to 28.0 cm.         -   Height.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Bracts:     -   -   Number of bracts per inflorescence.—7 to 8.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Mostly entire.         -   Size.—Length: 7.0 cm to 10.0 cm Width: 4.0 cm to 8.0 cm.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Vein color.—Upper surface: RHS 60A Lower surface: RHS 53B.         -   Bract color.—Upper surface: RHS 47A Lower surface: RHS 53B.         -   Bract petiole.—Length: 0.5 cm to 2.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to             0.3 cm Color: Upper (part) surface: RHS 53A Lower (part)             surface: RHS 53B. -   Cyme:     -   -   Diameter.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Cyathia number.—5 to 8 per inflorescence.         -   Cyathium.—Shape: Ovate Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm Length:             0.3 cm to 0.7 cm Color: RHS 143A.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 142B Length: 0.2 cm.         -   Nectar cups.—Number: 1 per cyathium Diameter: 0.1 cm Size:             0.3 cm to 0.4 cm Color: RHS 1C. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 to 10 per cyathium Shape: Ovate.         -   Filament.—Length: 0.25 cm Color: RHS 46A.         -   Pollen.—Quantity: Moderate Color: RHS 12A. -   Fruit and seed set: Not observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: No special disease or pest resistance     observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘NPCW14221’ is a distinct variety of poinsettia having dark red bracts. ‘NPCW14221’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Variety Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘NPCW14221’ ‘EP-1995-0002’ ‘EP-1995-0001’ Flowering time Late Early Foliage color Dark green Light green Bract color Dark red Medium red Bright red

‘NPCW14221’ can be compared to the commercial poinsettia plant variety ‘Duebelita’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,071), also commercially known as ‘Bella Italia’. Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Characteristic ‘NPCW14221’ ‘Duebelita’ Vigor Lower vigor than Higher vigor than ‘Duebelita’ ‘NPCW14221’ Bract size Smaller bracts than Larger bracts than ‘Duebelita’ ‘NPCW14221’ Number of cyathias More cyathias than Less cyathias than ‘Duebelita’ ‘NPCW14221’ 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of poinsettia plant named ‘NPCW 14221’ as illustrated and described herein. 